Aeroplane.



P. A. HBLWIG.

ABROPLANB.' n APPLIUATION FILED`MAY`29, 1912.

F. A. HELWIG.

ABRQPLANE.

Y APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

1,054,968, Patented Mar.4,1913.

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APPLICATION FILED 11u29; 1912.

1,054,968. f Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@Zn/7762s@ @s j UNITED STAMENT OFFICE.` i

'Fianna-mena. HEEWG, oF'oHIcAGo, 'ILLINo'Is To all lwkomvmay concern 'Beit 'known that L'Fnnonmon A. HEL- WIG, a citizen of the United States,and a residentff Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented 'cer- 'tain nnew and .useful Improvements -in Aeroplanes;"and I do hereby declare that the following vis a full, clear, and exactd escription thereof, reference being had to thel accompanying drawings,and to the l'et- 'tersof reference lmarked thereon, which form a `partof this specification.

This vinvention relates to improvements in apparatus for aerialnavigation and it embraces improvements both in the general constructionofthat' 'class o/f such apparatus known as aeroplanes, and in meansunder the control ofthe operator for steering the apparatus bothhorizontally and vertically and 'for maintaining stability orcounteracting the 'effects vof air currents that may tend to -tip ortilt the apparatus laterally.l

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointedout in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings' illustratingmy invention: Figure 1 is a plan section of a flying machine' orapparatus em. bodying my invention, taken on`tl1e line' 1-1 vof Fig. 2;Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus; Fig.j3 is a view incross-section of the same, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa viewin cross-sectio-n-taken on line 4:-4 -of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of the apparatus taken on the line.

5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail View from thev rear of one of therudders and adjacent parts of the frame members; Fig. -7 is a detailsection, taken on lli-ne 7 7 of Fig. 1,

of one of the controlling planes; Fig. 8 is a det-ail section of thesame, taken on line- 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 .is a detail section showingthe frame ofone of 'the vert-ical rudders, taken on line 9,-9 of Fig. 1;Fig. 10 is a detail plan viewshowing the steering gear and associatedparts separate Ifrom the frame of the machine;'F,ig. 11 is a view inside elevation ofthe parts shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 Lis an enlargeddetail sectiontaken -upon line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

'As shown in' the said drawings, the main frame or body of the apparatushas the form of a horizontally arranged, longitudinally extending,tubular frame-work, formed by means of longitudinal, laterallySpecieation of Letters Patent. 'Patented Mar. f1, 1913. l Application-led May 2.9, 1912. Serial No. 700,372. Y

arranged frame members 5, 5, an upper, central, longitudinal framemember 6, a central, lower frame member 7 and intermediate lframemembers 8, 8, located at either side of the lower central frame member.:Said longitudinal frame members 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected by annularstiening ribs 9, 9, 9and at theforward `and rear ends of the tubularframe, said rings are supplemented by longitudinally extending'v ribs10, 10. Thesaid forward and rear ends of the frame are made of taperedform,

the longitudinal ribs 10, 10, being converged toward the forward andrear ends of the frame to give such tapered shape to the latter.structed, is provided with an exterior covering of sheet material 1l,which forms an inclosure for the operator and for the driving mechanismof the apparatus.

At the forward and rear ends of the apparatus, the j same is providedwith `two pairs of transversely extending planes or wing members 15, 15and 16, 16, which are separated longitudinally from each other.

' The two planes 'constituting yeach pair eX- tend outwardly from theopposite sides of said main frame or body. Above the forwardlysupporting planes 15, 15, and

-parallel therewith, is' located a single The main frame or body thusconupper 'supporting plane 17, which extends across the entire width ofthe apparatus. Above the rear supporting members 16, 16, is locatedalike upper supporting member 18, 18, which. also extends'across theentirev width of the apparatus. The forward and rear margins of theseveral supporting planes 15, 16, 17 and 178 are parallel with each-other and transverse to the central longitudinal axisI ofthe apparatus.f The frame members by which the planesl 15, 15 and 1'6, 16, arelconnected with the main frame, consist -of transverse, horizontal bars26, V21, 22 and 23extending along the front and rear vmargins of thesaid planes fromvside to side of thesapparatus. The lateral,longitudinal members Y5, 5, 'of the main frame, converge at theirforwardv and rear ends and are attached to the centers of the transversebars 20 and 23 at the forward edge.

of the forward plane and the rear edge `of the' rear planes, whilethe-transverse bars 21 and 22 at therealr edgesV of the forward planesandthe forward edges of the rear planes, extend across and are attachedto both of said longitudinal frame bars 5.

The upper planes 17 and 18 are connected at their forward and rearmargins lby means of posts or uprights 24, 25, 26 and 27, with the saidtransverse bars 20, 21, 22 and 23. The details of the framework andcoverings of the planes themselves are not shown in the drawings, andthe same may be made in any suitable way. In the sectional views,

Figs. 4 and 5, in which the planes are shownl in' section, the same areVshown with parallel ltop and bottom surfaces, and the details of lmembers to the front and rear marginal frame bars ofthe planes 15, 15extend lobliquely arranged tie rods or wires 32, 32,

32 and 33, 33 33. The upper central, longitudinal frame member 6 is'likewise provided near its ends with the eyes or attaching devices 34and 35, and tie-rods or wires 36, 36 and 37, 37, extend from the same tothe marginal frame bars of the front and rear,y planes.

At the forward end of the apparatus is located a horizontally arrangedrudder 40 adapted to be swung or turned on a transverse horizontal axis,and which is under theu controlof the operator for the purpose ofchangingthe course of the apparatus upwardly or. downwardly, or toeffect the rising and falling movement of the same.

' to the frames of Said rudder 40 is located transversely of the mainframe above the forward planes15, 15 andbe'neath the upper forward plane17. Said horizontal rudder 40 is mounted at its ends'in bearings 41, 41,each of which is attached tothe meeting ends of two inclined strutsorbraces42, 43, which extend, and are attached at their lower ends to, theforward and rear marginal bars 20 and 21 of the'forward planes, asclearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. r

At the rear end of the apparatus are 'arranged two verticallyl arrangedsteering rudders 45, 45, which are mounted upon, and extend rearwardlyfrom, the rear parts `of the planes 16, 1.6. As clearly seen in Fig. 2,said ruddersV 4 are pivotally connected e planes 16, 16 at points Y`'considerably forward of the rear margins of said planes. The .meansfor pivotally mounting said rudders 45,consists of a pair of brackets46`and 47, each. made of V shape, or with rearwardly diverging arms,located one )above and one below the rear margins of the planes. Saidbrackets have the rear ends of their arms'attached rigidly to the framebar 23, at laterally separatedpoints, and the rudders are provided witharms which extend above and below the said brackets, andare pivotallyconnected with the same by vertical pivots 48, 48, extending throughbearings formed at the forward ends of said brackets, as clearly seen inFig. 9.r The said rudders 45, 45 are preferably located about midwaybetween the inner and outer margins of the planes 16, 16, and, as shownin Fig. 6, the two support-ing posts 27 for the upper plane which, ifattached directly to the bar 23, would be in position to interfere withthe swinging movement of said rudder, are connected with the bar 23,through the medium of a rigid yoke piece 27a attached to the said framebar at opposite sides of the rudder. As clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2-and9, each of said rudders 45 consists of an open metal frame, consistingof marginal, longitudinal and upright members, and is provided withoppositely extending rigid arms 49 that are connected by ginal frame ofthe rudder. Said arms 49 are also adapted for attachment to their 4outer ends of the steering cords employed in vshifting the rudders, ashereinafter describe f At the sides of the apparatus, in the spacesbetween the o uter ends of the frontand rear planes 15 and 16, arearranged pivoted controlling planes 55, 55, arranged to turn onhorizontal axes which extend longitudinally of the planes or wingvmembers, or transversely with respect to the central longltudinal lineofthe machine. Said controlling planes are shown as mounted inrectangular frames, consisting of longitudinal frame bars 56, 56, andtransverse connecting rods 57,57. Said frames are rigidly connected attheir forward and rear ends with the bars 21 and 22, conveniently by theends of the connecting rods 57,57, which pass through the ends of thesaid bars 55, 56, and are bent outwardly or,atright angles and are theninserted through and bent partially around the said bars 21 and 22, asclearly seen in the detail view, Fig. 7. The control- Lllng planes 55consist of-rectangular open metal frames, covered with flexibleymaterial. The side members of said frames are provi-ded centrally withbearing ears or lugs 58, which are engaged with the end' portionsoftransversely arranged rods 59, which are made of V-form andI rigidlysecured at their ends to the frame pieces 56, 56, as seen in bracesconnecting the central parts of said franie bars 56, 56,and are providedwith guide loops or eyes- 59a for the c ords, by whichfmovement is givento the controlling planes. The controlling planes 55 are provided withcentral, oppositely extending struts or arms 60, from the outer ends ofwhich oblique .tie rods or wires extend to being used to give stiffnessand rigidity. to said controlling planes. Said 'controlling planes 55,55 are turned or moved by the tension members'or wires 50 with the mar-Fig. 8. Said rods 59, 59 form transverse' the corners of the planes;this construct-ion operator for the purpose of counteracting anytendency of the apparatus to get'out of balance by the rising andfalling of the outer or lateral ends of the wing members in the advancemovement of the apparatus; said planes 55, 55, in this respect,performing the same function performed/.by like pivoted controllingplanes heretofore used in apparatus of this kind.

The propeller mechanism illustrated embraces two propellers 65, 65located at the rear of the two forward planes 15, 15, between thecentral main frame and the two controlling planes 55, 55 and also asingle propeller 66, located centrally at the rear of the said mainframe. The propellers 65, 65 are mounted on horizontal shafts 67, 67,

' which are rigidlyl secured to, and extend rearwardly from, brackets68,68, attached to the transverse frame bar 21. The said propellers 65,are driven by means of a transverse, horizontal shaft 69, mounted inbearings 70, on the frame bar 21. Said shaft is actuated by a motor orengine 71 through the medium of,v a driving belt 72. Said motor 71 ismounted within the main frame or body, and is suitably supported fromthe frame-members of the same. Each of the propellcrs 65 is attached toa tube or sleeve 73, which turns on the shaft 67 and is provided with abeveled gear 71 inter-l meshing with a like gear 75 on the adjacentendof the shaft 69.I These driving gears are so arranged that the twopropellers 65, 65 are driven or rotated in opposite directions. Thesingle rear propeller 66 is attached to a horizontal shaft 76, whichturns in bearings 77 and 78, the rear-most bearings 77 being attached tothe transverse frame bar 23 and the forward bearing '78 on a suitablylocated frame bar 23a of the main frame. Said propeller 66 is driven bymeans of a motor or engine 79 mounted in the interior of the main frame;the crank shaft of said'motor having driving connection with the shaft76 through the in edium of a driving belt 80.

I have provided a single operating device, adapted for operating orcontrolling the horizontal rudder 40, vertical rudders 45, 45, and thepivoted controlling .planes 55, 55, which device(A is shown moreparticularly in Figs. 10, l1 and 12, and is constructed as follows:vSaid operating device embraces a rotating shaft mounted to turn orrotate in a fixed sleeve or bearing 86. Said sleeve or bearing is shownas supported in inclined position by means of two standards or brackets87, 88. Connected with the shaft 85r by means of a universal lioint 89isi a laterally oscillating shaftsection 90 which constitutes anextension of said shaft 85, and is provided at its forward end with arigidly attached hand wheel 91. Said hand wheel is located in a positionconvenient for anoperator seated on a seat within the forward part ofthe inclosure formed by the main frame, such as is shown kat 92 in Fig.5. The bearing sleeve 86 is provided with four .pairs ofv radially"extending, rigidly attached arms, one pair of which 93, 93 extendsupwardly and downwardly from the said sleeve, and the other ,pair ofwhich 91, 9-1 extends laterally or horizont-ally from the same. The arms94, 91 lare provided at their ends with eyes or guides 95, 95 and thearms 93, 93 are likewise provided with eyes or guides 96, 96. Mounted onthe movable or oscillatory shaft section 90 is a non-rotative sleeve100. Said sleeve is provided with four radially extending arms. two ofwhich, 101,101, are located in a vertical plane and extend-above andbelow said sleeve. and the others of which. 102, 102. extend laterallyor horizontally from said sleeve: The arms 101 and 102 are provided witheyes 103, 1041, by which cords may be connected with the same. On theend of the shaft 85 opposite that with which the oscillatory shaftvsection 90 is connected. is rigidly secured a wheel or pulley 105. Thesleeve 86 is used merely to provide a. suitable fixed bearing for theshaft 85. and the arms 91 and 95 are attached thereto merely forconvenience, it being obvious that any other suitable form of bearingmay be employed to sustain said shaft and that the said arms or theguides thereon may be otherwise suitably supported in the positionshown. .ln other words, as the 'two pairs of guides 95 and 96 arearranged in fixed relation tothe shaft 85, the particular supportingmeans employed for said guides is immaterial.

lReferring now to the devices for operating the horizontal rudder 40, a.flexible rope or cord 110 is attached to the uppermostarm 101 of thesleeve 100, passes through the guide 96 on the upwardly extending fixedarm 93 and then passes through a guide 111 on the frame of theapparatus. and then upwardly to one side or margin of the rudder 40.Another cord or rope 112 is secured to the downwardly extending arm 101on the sleeve 100, is trained through the fixed guide 96, and guides 113and 114 on the frame of the apparatus, and thence upwardly to theopposite side or margin of said rudder 40. From this construction itwill be obvious that if the outer end of the shaft 90 with the sleeve100 thereon, be raised orlowered, by swinging it in a vertical planeabout the universal joint 89, the

Acords 110 and 112 will be drawn through vated, the forward edge of saidrudder will be depressed and when said wheel is moved downwardly, saidforward edge will be. elevated.

Now referring to the devices for operating the vertical rudders 45, 45,two cords 115, 116 are attached to t-he periphery of the pulley 105 andled therefrom (Fig. 10) through guides 117, 117 and 118, 118 on theframe of the apparatus, and are attached to the rear parts of saidrudders 45, 45; preferably being secured to the arms 49 on the outerfaces of said rudders. Another cord 119 extends between and is'connectedwith the inner or adjacent faces of said rudders, the same beinglikewise shown as connected with the arms 49 projecting from the innerfaces of the same. Said cord 119 preferably passes through a guide 120on the frame of the machine. Said rudders 45, 45 are operated byrotating or turning the hand wheel 91 so asl to give rotative movementto the pulley 105, whereby the cords 115, 116 are to an equal extent,woundfupon or unwound from said pulley, with the result of swinging saidrudderskto one side orthe other from their centralposition, as requiredfor steering o r giving proper direction to the apparatus.

N ow referringv to the means for operating the controlling planes 55,two cords 125, 126v are` arranged to connect the laterally'extendingarms 102 on the sleeve 100, with one vertically moving or swinging sideor margin of each of the said controlling planes while a third cord 127,is arranged to connect with each other the opposite swinging margins ofthe said controllingv planes. The cord 125 extends from the arm 102through its *associated fixed guide 95 and through two fixed guides 130and 132 on the frame of the apparatus, through the xed guide 59. at thetop ofl the angular brace or cross piece l59, to the forward margin of.the controllin plane 55, to which Lsaid cord leads. from the oppositearm 102 through Vthe ad- -jacent fixed guide 95 through guides 133 and134 on. the frame of the apparatus and throughathe guide 59,a Aon lthetransverse" member 59 to the forward margin Aof the' other controllingplane 55. The cord 127 is attached at its` ends t'o-the rear margins ofboth the controlling planes and passes :through the guides 59, 59., andthrough two'guides 136, 136 on the' frame of the apparatus; said cord-127 operating'to transmit motion from one of said controlling'planes tothe other when the forward edge of either `.plane-islifted by the actionof the cord 125 or 126'. When'the hand wheel 91` is moved or shiftedlaterally in a direction todraw inwardly` the cord 125, the end of lsaidcord which is attached 'to the forward end of the controlling 4plane'55' operates to lift vsaid -trolling plane.

T e operating cord 126 extendsforwardend and to depress the rear end ofsaid plane. When'the rear end is depressed, it draws the c ord 127through its guides so as to exert a pull on the rear end of the oppositecontrolling plane in a direction to lift the same and as this occurs,the forward edge of said opposite plane will be Adepressed so vas totake up the slack in the cord l 126. The reverse operation takes placewhen the hand, wheel 91 is shifted laterally in the opposite direction,so as to draw the cord 126 inwardly,. the associated controlling plane55. in that instance being lifted at its forward end and the depressionof its rear end operating through the cord 127 to elevate therear end ofthe first-named c011- From the construction in the ,controlling devicedescribed, it will be manifest that the operator may, through themovement of the hand wheel 91 alone, effect the Aguiding or steering ofthe aeroplane both vertically and laterally and also maintain thelateral stability of the apparatus. Moreover, the movements required inthe saidy hand wheel are those which will" be most easily and naturallyaccomplished, that is to say, the wheel will be raised or lowered toelevate or depress the forward end of the aeroplane, thewheel will bemoved or swung laterally to preserve the lateralv balance of theapparatus, and the wheel will be turned in one direction or the otherfor changing the direction or'forward movement of the apparatus to theright orto the'left. I

While the particular apparatus" shown is in the Inature of a biplanehaving upper and lower supporting planes, both at front and rear, thesame features of construction described may be employed. in a`monoplane, or the apparatus inay be .converted into a monoplane byremoving the upper planes 17 -and 18, together with the supportingstandards for the same.y

The apparatus 'shownis providedy wit-hA two Pairs 0f wheels 23o and 231,bywhiea .a is supported'when-on round, and to facili- Atatethelandingvof t esame `after-flight.

The forward Wheels 230 aremounted on short axles 232, 232, which areconnected at their4A inner. ends` with the lower, central frame bar 7.(F ig. 3.) bymeans of two bals 2 33, 233;" The outerf-euds of saidaxlesare attached to said oblique bars 234, 234, which are extended'outwardlyand u wardly, and are attached. to the transverse ame bar 21.

.Cther oblique brace 4bars 235, 235,\ extend from the inner ends ofAsaid axles 232 rearwardly and upwardly, and are attached-to the lateral,main-,1 longitudinal frame members 5,45. Therear wheels' 231 are-mountedonshort axles 236, the inner ends of which are connected by bar s237,"237 with the central lower frame bar 7 The outer end s of` saidaxles 236 are attached tobars 238, whichv isa are rigidly attached attheir upper ends to the transverse frame bar 22, near its unction withthe longitudinal main .frame bars 5, 5. The out-er ends of said'axlesare also attached to bars 239, 239, which extend upwardly and rearwardlyand-are secured to the rea-r transverse frame bar 23. i

In order to prevent the aeroplane, when alighting, or coming' to rest onthe ground, from tipping or tilting rearwardly byy the risingtof itsforward end, an auxiliary wheel 240 is mounted centrally beneath therear end of the main frame. Said wheelis shown as mounted on a shortaxle 241, the ends of which are attached to two upwardly diverging bars242, attached at their Lipper ends to the transverse frame bar The saidaxle 241 is held or braced from backward or forward movement b v twobrace rods '243, extending from the lower ends of the bars 242,forwardly to the lower' longitudinal frame member'. The said auxiliarywheel Q40 is located above the level of the main supporting wheels, sothat it will come into action only when the apparatus is tipped ortilted, as described.

On each of the propeller shafts 67, at the rear of the propeller 65,is acoiled spring 67, which acts to hold said propeller normally in itsforward position, said propeller'being adapted for sliding movement onits said shaft. Said spring permits the propeller to yield backwardlyunder pressure of air on its forward surfaces, as may occur involplaning, so as to permit the bevel gears ,74 and 7 5 to-becomeseparated lfrom each other and the propeller to become disengaged fromthe driving shaft at such time.

It is manifest that the details of const-ruction in an apparatuscontaining the general features set forth may be variously modifiedinpractice, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to theparticular features and details of construction illustrated asdescribed, except so far as the samemay be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention: 1. An aeroplane comprising forward a'nd reartransversely extending, longitudinally ing plane, a propeller locatedcentrally at the rear of the rearmost supporting plane, and two steeringrudder/s mounted at the rear margin of the rear supporting plane atopposite sides of said propeller.

3. An aeroplane comprising a central, longitudinal, tubular frame-workor body, forward and rear transversely extending, longitudinallyseparated supporting .planes extending laterallyfrom the sides of thebody, two controlling planes located in the spaces between the 'outerends of said supporting planes, a horizontal rudder located above theforward end of the central frame, two propellers, located at thel rearof the forward supporting planes between the cenf tral body and thecontrolling planes, and a single propeller located at the rear end -ofsaid body. e e

4. An aeroplane comprising a longitudinal, tubular, central frame,forward and rear transversely extending, longitudinally '1 .forward andrear supporting planes at opposite sides of the said central frame, apropeller located centrally at the rear of the rearmost supportingplane, and two vertical rudders located at the rear of said rearmostsupporting plane one at eachside of said last-mentioned propeller. l

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with horizont-'al and verticalrudders and two controlling planes, of means for operating said ruddersand controlling planes, comprising a rotative shaft consisting of afixed section and an oscillatory section, the latter being connectedwith the former by a universal joint and provided with a hand wheel',bearings'in which the fixed section of said shaft is journaled, anon-rotative lsleeve on the oscillatory section of [said shaft, saidsleeve being provided with four radially extending arms, two of whichexntend vertically and the other two laterally therefrom` a pulleysecured to the fixed section of said shaft,rand cords connecting theends Ofsaidarms' on the sleeve and said pulley with the horizontalrudder. the controlling planes and the vertical rudder.

6, In an aeroplane, the. combination with horizontal and verticalrudders and two controlling planes,l of means for operating said ruddersand controlling planes, com-` prising a rotative shaft consisting of afixed section and an oscillatory section, the latter being connectedwith the former by a -universal joint and provided with a hand wheel, afixed sleeve in which the fixed section of said shaft is journaled, saidfixed sleeve. being provided with four radially extending arms, eachhaving an eye in its outer end; two of said arms extending ver-- ticallyand the other two laterally therefrom, a non-rotative sleeve on theoscillatory section of said shaft, a pulley secured to the fixed sectionof said shaft, cords passing through the eyes in the verticallyextending arms and connecting said non-rotative sleeve with thehorizontal rudder, cords passing through the eyes in thelaterallyextending arms and connecting said non-rotative sleeve with thecontrolling planes, and cords connecting the said pulley with thevertical rudder. v

7. In an aeroplane, a central, longitudi nally extending tubular frameor bodycom prisinglaterally spaced side frame members, verticallyspaced, upper and lower frame members centrally disposed with respect tosaid'side frame members and located above and below the planeof thesame,intermediate frame members located at either side of said lower framemember and below the plane of saidside frame members, annular'`stiiening members adjacent the forward and rearward ends of saidtubular frame vand connecting said side, upper and lower,

and intermediate frame members; the forlatter.-

said tubular frame, said planes each embracing transverse frame barsextending along the forward and rear margins of the same, thetransverseframe bars at the front edge `ofthe forward plane and the rearedge of the rearmost planev being attached tothe meeting ends of saidvside frame members, and they transverse frame bars at theirear edge ofthe forward plane and the front edge of the rearmost plane extendingacross the tubular frame and beingattachedfto said side frame membersbetween the ends of the In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as mylinvention I affix my signature in the presen/ce of two witnesses, thisth day of May, A. D. 1912.

FREDERICK A. HELWIG.

vitness'esz CHARLES H. POOLE, EUGENE C. WANN.

